Inking mechanisms



Feb. 4, 1958 A. DRESSEL INKING MECHANISMS Filed April 6. 1951 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOOOOOOOOO w 0 O O O O O O O v I N VEN TOR. Afiffl? fiFf'Ex-FA ATTORNE Y5 Fig. 2

Feb. 4, 1958 A. DRESSEL INKING MECHANISMS Filed April 6. 1951 Fig. 3

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' ATTO EY-s Feb. 4,. 1958 A. DRESSEL INKING MECHANISMS 3 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed pril 6, 1951 Q INVENTOR.

mm \NN k t Q 7 ATTORNEY-S UnitedStates Patent O INKING MECHANISMS Arthur Dressel, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to R. Hoe & Co., Inc., Bronx, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 6, 1951, Serial No. 219,629 6 Claims. 01. 101-365 This invention relates to improvements in inking mechanisms.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with inking mechanisms of the type in which ink is supplied to a distributing cylinder through an ink rail by means of individual pumps, each pump generally supplying one column width.

It is an object of the invention to provide for rapid and simple change in the color of ink supplied to various page widths.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inking mechanism including ink reservoirs, pumps and conduits of a character such that difficulty in cleaning is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to make improved provision for adapting the inking mechanism to supply ink for pages of different widths.

With the foregoing objects and still other objects which will appear in mind, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts and details of construction which will now first be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing and then be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view looking in the direction of the arrow 1 of Figure 2, of an inking mechanism embodying the invention in a preferred form;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1 and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 2-A is a fragmentary view corresponding to part of Figure 2, but showing a valve member in a different position;

Figure 3 is a plan view, showing a portion of Figure 1, and with parts removed to show more clearly the internal features of the construction;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the inking mechamsm;

Figure 5 is a detail view showing certain shafting of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of two of the inking units of the inking mechanism; and

Figure 7 is a detail cross section on the line 77 of Figure 4.

The inking mechanism includes a number of units for supplying Widthwise page widths or other'sections of'a distributing cylinder, each of the units including an ink reservoir,- ink pumping mechanism and having a number of grooves adapted to form ink conduits when the is placed on suitable supporting structure.

In a typical mechanism, as shown in Figure 1, four such inking units A, B, C and D will be provided. These units sit in pairs on a pair of plates 10, which, in turn, are slidably supported on a cross member 11 which is fastened to the machine frames (not shown) in the usual way. A number of upper plates 12 cooperate with the inking units A, etc. and cooperate with the plates to complete the conduit and nozzle structure necessary unit for delivering the ink to the distributing cylinder 13, which is indicated in phantom in Figures 1, 2 and 4.

It will be understood that the ink is conveyed from cylinder 13 to the printing cylinder by any of the usual arrangements of cylinders and rollers. The present invention is not concerned with the specific form of these devices, which are well known in themselves, and they will not be further described herein.

Each of the plates 10 is guided as by means of gibs 14 (Figure 4) running in grooves or guideways 15 formed in the member 11 and may be moved back and forth toward the cylinder 13 by means of a crank 16 (Figure 2), which turns a screw 17 cooperating with a nut 18 fixed to the plate 10. The movement is parallel to a diameter of the cylinder passing through the ink supplying orifice or nozzle as hereinafter described.

A lower member 19, fixed to the plate 10, and upper members 12, detachably mounted on the plate 10, form the ink supplying nozzles.

The upper surface of plate 10 and member 19 is smooth and flat and the member 12 is grooved as shown in Figures 2 and 6 to provide ink supplying conduits 20 and properly shaped orifices or nozzles 21. Apertures 22 in plate 12 accommodate posts 23 secured to the member 10. A shaft 24 journaled in brackets 25 on the plate 12 carries terminal arms 26 having pins 27 adapted to enter arcuate cam grooves 28 in the posts 23. A block 29 having a socket 30 for accommodating a wrench 31 is fixed to the shaft 24 to permit turning this shaft. With the shaft 24 in the position of the figures, pin 27 cooperates with groove 28 to lock the plate 12 down on the plate 10. The unsupported length of shaft 24 gives suflicient flexibility to insure pressing the plate 12 down firmly in ink tight relation against the plate 10. Turning the shaft 24 (clockwise in Figure 2) brings the pins 27 out of the cam slots 28 and permits removal of the plate 12 by lifting it off the posts 23.

The inking unit has a bottom plate 32 formed with grooves 33, the ends of which register with the ends of grooves 20 in the associated plate 12 and the opposite ends of grooves 33 terminate in pump discharge ports 34 through which the ink is supplied. Plate 32 is fastened to the main casting 35 of the inking unit, which casting supports the ink pump frame 36, the frame being secured to bosses 37 in the casting by bolts 38.

The ink pumping arrangement is generally of known type, such as shown in prior patents to Schmidt 1,438,900 and to White 1,311,198. A drive shaft 39 drives, by means of gears 40 and 41, short stub shafts 42 journaled in the frame 36 and on which a piston operating block 43 is eccentrically journaled so as to have a rotary movement of translation. The ink pumping pistons 44 are slidably carried in this block and are spring pressed upwards as indicated, the lower ends of the pistons reciprocating in cylinder bores in a sliding cylinder block 45 which is also coupled to block 43 by pins 46. As the block 43 rotates, the pistons move up and down and the cylinder block 45 moves from a position over the discharge ports 34 to a position over theinlet port 47. The

I usual screw 48 is provided for each piston, for limiting its movement and thus regulating the quantity of ink pumped by it.

The inking units A, etc. are detachably secured to plates 10 and are properly positioned with relation to v the plates 12 by means of cam locking levers 50 pivoted 3 tioned lengthwise of the cylinder 13 by the blocks 52 to register the conduit grooves 33 and 20 accurately regain-er.

The units A, etc. are held down on the plate 10 in ink tight relati o n thereto by means of trunnionsSS on the unit cridperati'n'gf with locking levers 5 6 pivotally mounted on the plate 1d at 57 and carrying dogs 58 pirate-11y rrieiiiited on th'e lev'e'rs at"5 9. Dogs 58 are urged toward the cyliii'dr 13 (counterclbckwis'e in Figure by means of sprigs 6ti. The lever 56 18 turned as by rhesus at a wrenchfil to engage dog SS in dead "center position on a pin 55 as "shown in Figure secu'rely locking the inking unit in plate 10. h The inking unit is released by rotating the levers 36 away from the cylinder 13 (counterqskwi in Fi i Trunriio'n's 62 onthe inking unit cooperate with hooks (i3 ,o'n thepla'te fo facilitate inserting and removing a unit. l'r'iinse'rting the inking unit, it is first placed in position on the plate 10 with trunnions 62 seated in the hooks 'fi3 'and then is swung down so, as to rest on the plate. Thereafter, handles 50 and levers 56 are turned to lock the nni t securely in position. In removing the unit, the order of operations is reversed and the unit may be swung counterclockwise on its trunnio'ns 62 for e'rnpt "n'g [the ink from the reservoir space, within, the unit generally, into a bucket before r'ernov'ing the unit entirely from "the a in v Shaft ;39 previonsly referred to, is a hollow shaft and its construction and mounting are shown in detail in Figures 3', 4 "and The shaft is jou'r n aled in the ink pump frame 36 and has fiked w'i'thin it at each end a short coupling :sh'a'ftdS. douplijng shaft 66 slidably and rotatably carried in a bearing 67 mounted in the wall jof the casting 35, has a sqiiaredfend fitting in a recess in the end fof shaft for rotativel'y coupling thereto. Shaft section *66 is c'onpled to the similar shaft of an adjacent unit means of a yoke 68 having a square opening coex sting with square-en s of the "shafts and 'r'er'r'iovably held in, position by a pin 69. Removing the yok 68 eitherlsi de or a unit disconnects its drive shafts for ermittiiig removal ofthe unit. Where it "is desired to operate the rrechanisrn with one 'or more :units removed, a shaft of suitable le th may be inserted in place of the unit for coupling e'd units tegfemer,

The'rii rrib'eno lnkpiinips and'condu'its 33leading therefrom in theu'nits A, fete. need not necessarily correspond to the number of conduits 'ii1'the cooperating plates 12. Thus, ftenebnduits 33 maybe provided, the ink pump associated with one of the cdiidiiits being ilenced ere only nine cc'il hrrins fare tofbe supplied withgink. As will also be apparent, plates 12 liavin'g'conduits 20 registeiing the condtiits '33 as showh Biit "dispo's ed at "diife'r'eht angles maybe employed. In this way, by merely'siibstitutin'g' different plates 12 the rnechani'smmay be adapted very simpl for printing pages a different widths.

The pump supplying any of the edndiiits 33 may be silenced in the known manner, "by adjusting the cofresponding screw 48 so that the'piston does notre ciprbc'ate. It is preferred in certaincases,-however, to silence a pump leading to aieonduit 33 without making this adjustment, as, for-example, whereit is desiredto silenceapurdp withoutdi sturbingits adjustment. For this purpose, *a valve structure 70 (Figures 2, 2A, 3 and ,6) may be provided. Each valvefconiprises a valve body 70, which is generally cylindrical and carried in a herein the castingSS {and bottom plate 32, as indicated. I Ea ch valve body is formed with a transverse "groove 71 at its bottom a n'dwith a longitudinal groove 72 on one side. With the valve'b'ody in the position of Figure 2 the groove or channel 71fyvill be disposed crosswise of'the conduit 33, thus preventing flow of ink through this conduit-and the groove 72 will establish a channel of communicationbetween the conduit 33 and the reservoir space within the inking unit. The associated pump will, therefore, pu'rnp ink through the conduit 33 up to thevalv'e'body 70and-thenthrou'gh the groove 72 back into-therese'r'voir, by-passing thfe'aflow 4 of ink so that no ink is supplied through the channel 33. A Eiiiaftf tiiiii 6f th valve body 70 will biing it into the position of Figure 2-A, in which position the transverse channel 71 is lined up with the groove 33, permitting flow through this groove and the longitudinal channel 72 is brought against the wall of the bore, thus cutting off flow through this channel. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, each of the valve bodies 70 is provided with a square head 73 to permit turning by a suitable wrench and stop pins 74 are provided to position the body 70 in either open or :e'los'ed position, desired.

A change in the color of ink supplied to a given page may be very simply and rapidly accomplished by removing the appropriate one of the inking units A, etc. and substituting a duplicate unit charged with the desired color. The removal of the unit and the lifting of the plate 12 permits very simple and rapid cleaning of the upper surface of plate 10 and the grooves in the lower side of plate 12 may also be wiped clean with no dithculty preliminary to replacing the plate 12 and putting a substitute inking unit in position.

he ink chang'e inay also, of course, be made by changing the ink within a given unit. This is readily accdfnplished by lfiifastening and tilting back the unit in question and draining it into a bucket. Thereafter, the unit and associated plate 12 may be removed. The structure is such as to permit easy cleaning. Sliding the coupling shafts 66 outwardly and unfastening the bolts 38 perr'ni'ts lifting out the entire frame 36 together with the ink pumping mechanism carried thereby. This frame may then be immersed in suitable solvent for cleaning and the reservoir space within the unit is readily washed and wiped clean.

What is claimed is: y

1. An inking mechanisin for a [printing machine cornprifsing 'in emanation, a 'fiat supporting plate, a plurality or inking u s, each comprisin an ink reservoir and a plurality fof ink "pu'riips, each inking unit having grooves onfits 'bott'om in communication with the discharges or its pumps and cooperating with the .plate t form ink conduits when the unit is fastened thereon, and means for detachably fastening the inking units on the plate.

2. An "inking mechanism for a printing machine comprising in combination, a flat supporting plate, a plurality o'f inking units, 'eaeh comprising an ink reservoir and a plurality of ink pumps, each inking unit having grbdifes "dh its bottom in -'conimunicarion "with the discharges (if it's pumps and cooperating with the plate to form ink conduits when the unit is fastened thereon, means for'detaehabiy fastningthe inking units on the plate, a nameplate haviiiggfdoves in its bottom 'registering'with and continuing the first said grooves and forming ink cdn'dtiifs and disc'ha'rg'e nti'zzleswhen'fastened to the "said supporting plate, and means fastening the nozzle p'late tame supporting plate.

3. An inking mechanism for a printing machine-comp'risin'gf-ih combinatibn, a fiat supporting plate, a pinrality of inking units, each comprising an ink'r'e's'ery'oir and a plurality of ink piiirips, each inking unit -having pump discharge bores through its bottom and grooves on its bottom in eonimunieatio'n with -'th'e*dischar}g'e bores andedeper a rng-wirh the plate' to form-inkfco'nduits when th e uni-t is "fastened tlie'r'dn, andtne'ans for detachably fastening the inking units'onth'e plate. I

4. An inkingrnechanisin foraprinting machine co'mprising, in combinatiom a flat supportingplatq'a plurality of iriking'nnit's, each comprising an ink reservoir and a plurality ofi-nk:purnps,each inking unit h'avi'n'g pu'mp discharge bores through its bottom and grooves on its bottom 'in communication 'with the-discharge bores and cooperating with the plate to'form ink conduits when the unit is fastened thereon, --means fordetachably :fastening the inking'uni'ts dn the-platem'nd'zzle plate havingigrooves in its-bottom registering 'withand continuing the first said.

grooves and forming ink conduits and discharge nozzles when fastened to the said supporting plate, and means for detachably fastening the nozzle plate to the supporting plate.

5. An inking mechanism for a printing machine comprising, in combination, a supporting plate, a plurality of units detachably mounted thereon and each comprising an ink reservoir and ink pumping mechanism including a unit drive shaft together with cooperating pistons and cylinders, a frame structure within the reservoir and supporting the ink pumping mechanism, the said frame structure being bodily removable from the reservoir, means detachably securing the frame structure within the reservoir, and coupling shafts slidably mounted in the reservoir walls for connecting to said drive shaft and moving out of the way to permit removal of the frame structure and inking mechanism.

6. An inking mechanism for a printing machine comprising, in combination, a supporting plate, a plurality of units detachably mounted thereon and each comprising an ink reservoir and ink pumping mechanism including unit drive shafts together with cooperating pistons and cylinders, the unit drive shafts being aligned with each other and shaped and positioned to permit movement of one shaft away from an adjoining shaft by movement transversely thereof, and coupling members between drive shafts of adjoining units and removable to permit removal of a selected unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent .UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,262,708 Smith Apr. 16, 1918 1,311,198 White July 29, 1919 1,583,172 Phythian May 4, 1926 1,642,809 Granger Sept. 20, 1927 1,707,995 Schlotter Apr. 9, 1929 2,081,906 Ball June 1, 1937 2,479,103 Dorr Aug. 16, 1949 

